This past March The Day published my letter describing a melancholy World War II era tune called "When the lights come on again (all over the world)” that, while melancholy, offered hope in the darkest of times. The song applied as much to our grave COVID-19 fears in 2021 as it did to the horrors of that frightening war.

Recently I heard on the same 1940's era jazz station another song that spurs me to write. "Ain't nobody's business but my own" is performed by the great Billie Holiday and sung from the perspective of a person in an abusive relationship. It includes cringeworthy lyrics as, "Well, I'd rather my man would hit me than for him to jump up and quit me" and "I swear I won't call no copper if I'm beat up by my poppa."

Clearly no person should endure such treatment, and it is our business if we are aware of it. If we know a friend or relative who is involved in an abusive relationship, we can urge them to contact Safe Futures, a New London based organization that provides a variety of services from counseling to shelter for men or women who are subject to domestic violence.

Those concerned about this societal issue can contribute to Safe Futures.

Thomas M. Moriarty

East Lyme